Is this the New Alfa Romeo Spider?

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Despite a debut not expected until 2015, a near-ready image of the new Alfa Romeo Spider is here.

We’ve known for some time now that Alfa Romeo and Mazda joined forces where the latter will provide the platform and build a new Spider roadster for the Italian brand. The new Alfa Spider will be built alongside the next-gen MX-5 in Japan, but it will have a different engine and body design. Although we’re still several months away from the new MX-5’s reveal, Autocar has just released an image that is nearly the final design for the new Spider. It’s just downright beautiful.

There’s definitely plenty of design inspiration here from the upcoming 4C and even Pininfarina, the styling firm that designed the original boat-tail "Duetto" in the mid-Sixties, is also taking part in this project. However, an Alfa source made clear "the new Spider definitely won’t be retro in design...it has to be contemporary and must fit into the range with the modern 4C." Despite having similar styling, the Spider will be built in larger numbers than the 4C since it’s meant for a larger audience. It will share the new MX-5’s windscreens, windscreen structure, front bulkhead and front and rear axles.

The MX-5 will have simpler styling in line with what we're long familiar with in regards to its long history. The cars will weigh roughly the same as well. The Spider’s power will come from a 1.4-liter turbocharged MultiAir four-pot with close to 170 horsepower. Expect for the new Mazda MX-5 to debut in early 2015, and the Alfa Spider will likely come shortly afterwards. Good things are about to happen here.